19-0 run leads MSU women over Bama

Mississippi State University
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A 19-0 run midway through the second half lifted Mississippi State past Alabama 67-49 in the final Southeastern Conference regular-season basketball game.
The victory clinched the sixth seed for MSU in this week’s SEC Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs (21-8, 8-6 SEC) will face the South Carolina Gamecocks in a 9 p.m. first-round game Thursday in North Little Rock, Ark.
In Sunday’s game, the Lady Bulldogs missed their first eight shots from the field and quickly trailed 10-0. MSU then pieced together a 13-3 run to tie the game 13-13. The Lady Tide kept a slight lead, 30-26, at halftime.
“We challenged them at the half,” MSU head coach Sharon Fanning said. “We knew coming in Alabama was going to play with everything they have. They can shoot the basketball. In this game, they made some early shots and we didn’t. That allowed them to play with more confidence.”
The Lady Bulldogs trailed 41-35 with 14:25 remaining in Sunday’s game. MSU then reeled off the 19-0 run. Alabama did not score again until 5:30 remaining.
Meanwhile, MSU’s Mary Kathryn Govero and Alexis Rack each hit four 3-point baskets in the contest. Govero hit all four of hers in the final half, with two during the game-deciding 24-2 run.
Rack led MSU with 19 points, while Govero added 14 points. Donnisha Tate had a team-high eight rebounds, while Chanel Mokango and Armelie Lumanu each had seven rebounds. Erika Russell led UA with 12 points. Tierney Jenkins and Dedrea Magee each had nine rebounds for the Lady Tide.
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